(Regular updates will be available on the Alberta Pulse Growers website.)

Pulse Canada and the CSCA are partners of the Ag Transport Coalition (ATC)*, which tracks performance of the Canadian railway network for the movement of grain.

A new grain network status report has been created to provide stakeholders with comprehensive insight on the performance of the Canadian rail system for the 2020-2021 grain year. The report provides information and data on the status of the rail network as of midnight the previous day.

The railway performance data reported in these reports reflect the performance of rail shipments specifically for grain shippers participating in the Ag Transport Coalition’s railway performance measurement program – estimated to encompass approximately 90-95% of western Canadian originated grain shipments by rail.

March 13, 2022: Report Synopsis

Loads on Wheels

Consistent with the trend seen through much of last week, system loads on wheels were up 5% over the prior week at roughly 6,400 cars per day – the highest level in six weeks.

The increase seen over the last two weeks is much a reflection of the railways working off outstanding order counts as any actual increase in shipper demand.

Cars Not Moving

System idle car counts climbed steadily throughout much of last week finishing the week averaging more than 1,800 cars per day – the highest levels seen in six weeks.

The increase reflects higher counts for CN while CP saw counts hold steady week over week.

Port Unloads

West coast unloads averaged 429 cars per day last week – the lowest level in seven weeks driven principally by a 30% decline in Vancouver unloads last week.

While Prince Rupert unloads remained steady last week averaging less than 100 cars per day for the 5th straight week some of the shortfall was made up by Thunder Bay where unloads have begun to ramp up.

For more information, go to www.agtransportcoalition.com* The Ag Transportation Coalition is comprised of the Canadian Canola Growers Association (CCGA), Alberta Wheat Commission (AWC), Pulse Canada, Manitoba Pulse Growers Association (MPGA), Western Grain Elevator Association (WGEA), Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission, Inland Terminal Association of Canada (ITAC) and the Canadian Special Crops Association (CSCA). All daily network status reports are available on the Pulse Canada website.